Las Vegas Raiders

The Raiders are one of the most interesting fantasy teams to project in 2026 because they now have a real bell-cow foundation and a new-look offense around them. Fernando Mendoza is the headliner at quarterback after Las Vegas made him the first overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, while the team also signed center Tyler Linderbaum on a massive three-year, $81 million deal to stabilize the offensive line. That matters for fantasy because the Raiders are expected to lean on a heavier, more efficient scheme under Klint Kubiak, which should help the run game and make the offense less volatile than it was a year ago.

Ashton Jeanty is the clear fantasy anchor here and should be treated as a high-end RB1 in all formats. He already showed he can handle work as a rookie in 2025, and the current expectation is that his rushing volume and touchdown total can climb in a better offensive environment, especially with the team likely to use more 12- and 13-personnel and zone-run concepts. Mike Washington is worth noting as a late-round handcuff and contingency stash because he was added in the draft and profiles as the next man up if Jeanty misses time, but Jeanty is the player who can carry this backfield for fantasy managers.

Brock Bowers remains the most valuable Raiders pass-catcher and one of the safest tight ends to draft, even with the offense still developing. Multiple previews note that he enters 2026 coming off an injury-disrupted 2025 season, but his target share, yardage, and touchdown upside still make him a premium fantasy option if he is healthy. The wide receiver room is much harder to trust: Jakobi Meyers has been productive before, but the passing game overall still projects as more of a secondary fantasy ecosystem than a weekly source of reliable breakout production, with several analysts pointing to the need for another strong draft class before the group becomes truly compelling.

Overall, this looks like a team where fantasy value is concentrated rather than spread out. Jeanty is the safest bet, Bowers is the elite upside play at tight end, and Mendoza is an intriguing rookie quarterback who could become useful if the offense clicks, but the Raiders’ wideouts and secondary skill players are more likely to be matchup-based or late-round fliers than every-week starters. If you are drafting Raiders, the best approach is to buy the difference-makers and be selective everywhere else, because this offense has more promise than it had a year ago, but it is still young and unproven.

Updated 06/21/2026